“So you don’t know where your brother is which means you don’t know where the gem is,” Bianchi takes a hit from the blunt and passes it to the girl next to him. “If you don’t get me the gem in seventy-two hours, I’ll be taking the only payment that will do. If her brother isn’t here, then she will have to pay for the crime. You know how it goes. You know the rules. Your wife either gives me the gem or she’ll have to give herself to me.”
I gasp, a cold chill settling in my bones. Being his could mean many things or it means he’ll kill me. The way the man’s face shows no sign of remorse has my head dizzy and the urge to run away hits me hard. I know I won’t get far, but it’s the fight of flight response in me and I’m dying to fly right now.
Ari said for me not to say anything, and that hasn’t been a problem since we have set foot in this club. The person I was when I came here the first time looking for revenge is gone. This is all above me. The violence, the way of life, and what people will do to get what they want. I killed someone and I never want to do it again, but these people seem to salivate for the kill.
So I’ve been a good girl. I’ve only been speaking when spoken to.
My husband stands, pushing me behind him protectively and one of his hands is gripping my arm so hard it hurts, but I know it isn’t to harm me but to make sure no one else has the chance.
His voice is low, full of fury and hate, gravel clawing at his voice belonging to a man who is far from a saint and allowing the monster to reveal itself.
“I’ll say this once and you better fucking hear me. My reach is a lot larger than yours and if anyone dares to threaten or put their hands on my wife—” he hits his chest with his palm and raises his voice “—My fucking wife! I will destroy everything you fucking love right in front of your face before slowly killing you. She is mine and I will fucking torture, murder, and slaughter for anyone who dares to try taking her from me.” Ari leans in and seethes in Bianchi’s face. “I fucking dare you.”
His admission, the way he said it, the fierce protectiveness in his voice has most of the fear vanishing and lust takes its place. There’s still terror simmering under my skin but partnered with the desire I have for Ari at the moment, I shockingly want nothing more than for him to fuck all his anger into me. I want him to take his rage out on me.
Ari helps me to my feet, and I do my best to seem like my legs are shaking.
“Seventy-two hours, Milazzo,” Bianchi reminds us.
“And you’ll be dead,” Ari tells him.
I know he’ll protect me, but the last thing Ari needs is a war with him being so new after taking his brother’s title. It would be a lot of death and I’d feel terrible if it all happened because of me. Would anyone have to die if I just gave the diamond back to Bianchi? Would he forget about us?
Something tells me it wouldn’t matter now. I had my chance to return it and I didn’t. These are the consequences of my actions and I have to live with them.
Ari has a tight hold of my hand as we leave out of the room. He’s practically dragging me down the hall. I’m finally able to breathe clean air and I suck in a deep, relieved breath.
“Ari. Slow down. I can’t walk that fast in these heels.”
Matias is on one side of me, and Gianni is on the other. The rest of the men are hanging back.
“Where is everyone else?” I ask, worried they are trapped.
“Making sure no one follows us,” Matias replies. “They are giving us enough time to leave before they do.”
“Oh.” That makes sense, but even as I turn to look over my shoulder with worry, I don’t see them coming from the back room. I’m scared I won’t ever see any of them again.
“They will be fine.” Matias’s hand falls to the middle of my back. “They are stronger, smarter, and quicker than any of those fuckers in that room. They will come back soon.”
“And the bartender?” I ask out of nowhere. “We need to find him.”
“He gave you up!” Ari hissed the moment we are out the door, nearly slamming into the security guard on the way out. “Fuck no. He can rot in the ground for all I care.”
“He didn’t,” I argue, tugging on Ari’s arm to bring us to a stop in the middle of the parking lot. “He knew it was me back there. My hair being straight didn’t change my appearance that much. He knew it was me and all he had to do was confirm it. He’s probably the reason why I’m still alive right now. And we don’t know if he’ll kill me. He only said I’ll be his. That can mean something else other than death.”
“Alive?” Ari bellows, the echoes of his voice traveling through the night as if we were in a tunnel, the harshness of the passing voices a whip to my skin. “You have a fucking bounty on you. His threat meant death and he was nice about it. You have seventy-two hours before he wants your head. Do you understand that? It doesn’t matter what the bartender said, in the end, you have a death warrant now which would have never happened if he never opened his fucking mouth like a coward,” Ari spits, the anger darkening his cold blue eyes. “We shouldn’t have come here. I’m done playing nice with him. Fuck his alliance. I’ve treaded carefully for you, but no more.”
“The bartender did what anyone would do to survive. You can’t blame him for that.”
“I do and if he were in front of me, I’d kill him myself.”
“I wouldn’t let you.”
“You stubborn, infuriating woman!” he shouts, lacing his hands behind his head.
“You’re a hardheaded, strong-willed asshole!” I yell in return.
His eyes blaze and when he takes a step forward. “Last time I checked, we had an agreement, and you just broke it.” His fingers wrap around my arm and drag me to the nearest car.
“The bartender,” I remind him over my shoulder.
He glares at me before slamming the door in my face so I can’t say another word. My chest rises and falls as the adrenaline, rage, and lust fill my veins. I feel like my body is on fire, tears ready to break over my cheeks, and my heart is hammering beneath my breastbone, thudding hard at the realization that I cursed at him.
That there’s a bounty on my head, that I know even though Ari doesn’t agree with me, he will look for the bartender because I asked.
He’ll do things for me even if he doesn’t agree or like them.
Ari climbs into the car and slams the door. He settles in the seat, spreading his legs to get comfortable, and sucks his tongue over his cheeks in agitation. “Matias will stay behind to look for the bartender, but if he is found, he is going into the basement. I do not trust him.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, keeping my voice light and submissive, wanting him to know how much I appreciate him doing that.
“You and that wicked tongue.” He doesn’t look at me. Ari looks out the window instead, but even from where I am sitting, I can see the vivid color of his eyes reflecting from the glass, glaring at me.
“I’m not sorry,” I dare to say. “You were being protective and hardheaded.”
“And I will always be,” he growls, still not looking at me.
The rest of the car ride is quiet on the drive home. Gianni is speeding and the roar of the engine is all that can be heard even over my thundering thoughts. I like how protective Ari is. I like that the thought of anyone hurting me sends him into a manic beast.
The longer the silence between us goes on, the more my desire for Ari heightens. His anger is directed not only at Bianchi but at me because defying him is something no one else does. As I look out the window, headlights from the other side of the road blind me for a second before adjusting to the night again.
I think back to the way Ari protected me, placing himself in front of me as if he was a bulletproof shield. He’d never be able to protect me from such violence. Not really. If a bullet went through him to get to me, the pain I’d feel from losing Ari would outweigh any sting of any weapon. He wouldn’t be able to protect me from that.
It’s scary how fast I’ve fallen for a man I’m supposed to hate. In such a short amount of time, I’ve gone from wishing he was dead to hoping he never dies.
The heart can be so confusing when it comes to love and hate. Is there really such a difference between the two? Both lead to pain and death. Both lead down roads of torment, but only one path didn’t stop at a dead end.
There’s a real possibility I’ll be dead in three days. Ari won’t ever accept that. In his eyes, three days meant time to plan and prep to kill Bianchi and everything he stood for, so his enemy didn’t get the chance to even touch me.
The car came to a stop, and I blinked my thoughts away, noticing we are already home. I don’t remember the ride. Gianni’s eyes peek into the rearview mirror and his gaze is questionable, sensing the tension between Ari and me.
Ari steps out into the dark and the stars in the night sky twinkle behind him. They shine so brightly; the light illuminates the hard edge of his jaw and how tight his teeth are clenched.
He’s furious, but still, he holds out his hand to help me out of the car.
I take it, wanting nothing more than to be close to him in some way, in any way he will have me. When I’m out of the car, that’s when the gentleman in him retreats and he lets go of me, walking away from me. I’m left staring at his back and when he opens the front door, he leaves it agape for anyone to enter.
“He’ll come around.” Gianni slams the car door as he gets out. “The one thing that makes Ari so different than Carmine is Ari feels deeper, even if he denies it. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he doesn’t fool anyone the way he seems to fool himself. Give him time, he’ll come around. He’s…processing. He’s planning. He’s worrying but he will find a way to protect you. Go to him.”
“I don’t think he wants me around,” I say carefully as if there are eggshells around me that I’m afraid of breaking.
“He always wants you around. Never question that. He doesn’t want me around or his twin, but you? He’ll always welcome you, Rosie.”
“He’s mad.”
He nods, not trying to make me feel better. “He is, but he isn’t mad at you. He’s mad at the situation.”
I know one thing that Gianni doesn’t.
Ari is mad at me, but in a different way because I broke the mutual agreement.
We are not to curse at one another, and I called him an asshole. If I remember correctly, he said he would bend me over his lap and spank me.
I’m not sure he would, but the threat sends a spark of curiosity down my spine. I don’t think I’d like it, but I also think he knows that. I don’t want to give up that much control to someone and I’m not a fan of pain, but if it is something he wants to try, then I’m willing to try anything with him.
“Have a good night, Gianni. And thank you for everything,” I tell him, giving him a quick hug.
“You’re welcome. And don’t worry,, no harm will come to you.” He narrows his eyes as he tugs on the straightened strand. “I like it better curly, just so you know.”
I chuckle with exhaustion. “Me too. This is too much to keep up with.”
I head into the house just as the second car pulls into the driveway and Matias gets out of the front seat. I wave at him before stepping into the house. It’s dark, quiet, and the only hint that someone is inside, is the faint glow of the bedroom light casting down the hallway.
I follow it and notice the door is cracked, explaining why the light is so faint. When I push it open, I hear the spray of the shower. Steam rolls into the bedroom from the bathroom giving the air a humid feel.
I shut the door, locking it so no one could burst in and interrupt us.
I’m nervous. I haven’t initiated anything. Sex has been mutual, but I’ve never been the one to go to him for pleasure. I want to tonight. My body is alive for him. It burns for him. My nerves feel raw and bare and the only way they can be soothed is if I feel his touch.
We have an agreement. He keeps me safe. I give him a baby. While I haven’t been able to fulfill my end of the contract yet because it’s too early, I want to, and the urge to give him, us, a child, to be a family is what I want. I want to drown myself in the fantasy of it because no matter how much reassurance he gives me, I might die in three days.
And Ari is the closest thing to family that I’ve had in a long time, minus my brother. If I want to be honest, the moment he can come home, he’ll be a part of this family. The one Ari has created here for me, for us, because while how we came together isn’t traditional, I think I’m meant to be here. This is where my brother and I belonged.
I undress, slipping off my high heels first, and groan in relief when my feet aren’t forced to be in such a high, awkward position. I’ve never been the high-heel-wearing type. Gripping the zipper that travels along my side, I pull it down, letting it drop at my feet, then I take off the expensive jewelry Ari got me, placing it on my nightstand, then take a deep breath to steady my nerves.
What if he doesn’t want me? What if he has decided I’m more trouble than I am worth?
There’s only one way to find out.
I brave the steam, the heat bursting across my face. The glass of the stall is fogged, and I can see the outline of Ari’s body as he stands in the shower.
He’s beautiful.
Opening the door, I step inside. His back is to me, and the water is raining down on his head. His muscles contract when he feels my palm land on his lower back.
“Rosie,” he says without looking at me, but he doesn’t sound angry.
“Ari.” I graze his torso until I wrap my arms around him, my fingers settling in the trimmed patch of hair above his cock.
My breasts press against his back and his ass curves perfectly against me, our bodies fitting like a puzzle piece.
“What are you doing in here?”
His words sting and I almost pull away but decide not to and show him I don’t want to be anywhere else.
“I can’t touch my husband?”
“I didn’t think you’d want to after everything.” He turns around and my hands slip to his round ass. His cock is hard, curling up and over his belly button. The vein protrudes on the side, pumping the length to full mast.
“After everything, I only want to touch you more.”
And I never want to stop.
